Global Indigenous Peoples Criticize EBT Industry Practices

Criminalization and attacks on indigenous leaders and communities are increasing.

AP PHOTO/RODRIGO ABD

Aerial photo shows land operated by lithium extraction company, SQM, near Peine, Chile, April 18, 2023.

NEW YORK, FRIDAY — Representatives indigenous peoples from 35 countries, Thursday (18/4/2024), issued a declaration criticizing the bad practices of the new energy industry renewable or EBT. Indigenous communities assess that the EBT industry ignores their rights in efforts to develop EBT which is needed in the joint struggle to overcome the climate crisis.

”We recognize and support the need to end dependence on fossil fuels and switch to renewable energy as important in overcoming the climate crisis. "However, the current energy transition fails to meet the criteria of justice, social equality and environmental sustainability, especially from the perspective of the rights and welfare of indigenous peoples," said the indigenous people's statement.

The joint document was produced after dozens of global indigenous community representatives held a conference on Indigenous Peoples and a Just Energy Transition. The activity was attended by indigenous community representatives from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Kenya, Australia, and Norway.

Lithium, nickel, and cobalt are some of the important minerals that are currently in high demand in the global renewable energy industry, particularly in the development of battery-based electric vehicles. Large automotive industry owning countries are targeting these minerals to be used in the battery industry of their electric vehicles.

Also read: Lithium, the Cornerstone of Driving Evolution

Various other minerals, including rare earth minerals, are also used for solar and wind power generation. The demand for copper and aluminum is also increasing in line with the expansion of power grids in several countries.

ICHWAN SUSANTO

The lithium-ion battery system, created by Akira Yoshino, a professor at Meijo University in Nagoya, Japan. As a result of his work, he was awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which was announced on October 9, 2019.

The main criticism of global indigenous peoples is that when these materials are found around locations where indigenous peoples live, industry and governments marginalize them. About half of mineral and transition metal energy projects are located on or near the lands of indigenous communities and other subsistence farmers, according to research published in 2022 by the journal Nature Sustainability.

The statements of indigenous communities also condemn the International Council on Mining and Metals, a trade group claiming to represent one-third of the global mining industry, as well as the International Seabed Authority for failing to respect the rights of indigenous peoples. Both institutions and EBT industry players engage in practices deemed similar to those of other mining industry players, although they now use EBT jargon.

Mining has left a legacy of environmental damage in many places for over a century, and it is now becoming more widespread. Criminalization and attacks against leaders and indigenous communities are also increasing.

Also read: There Has Been No Improvement in the Protection of Environmental Human Rights Defenders

Citing data from The Business & Human Rights Resource Center (BHRRC), an international nonprofit organization that examines the impact of global industries on human rights, there are at least 49 allegations of violations of the rights of indigenous communities related to the extraction of six minerals needed for the renewable energy industry from 2010 to 2022.

Data from BHRRC and IPRI (Indigenous People's Rights International) also noted that, in the period January 2015 to August 2022, there were at least 883 attacks on indigenous human rights defenders who were trying to protect their rights and land. , territory, and their resources from detrimental business. The attacks included killings, threats, arbitrary detentions, and strategic legal challenges to public participation.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Electric motorcycle riders joined an electric motor vehicle exhibition and parade on MH Thamrin Street in Jakarta on Saturday, August 31, 2019.

In addition, according to BHRRC, only two out of 28 companies evaluated meet the Renewable Energy Benchmark for 2023 and have clear policy commitments to respect the rights of indigenous communities. These rights include the right to free, prior, and informed consent.

Ruth Alipaz Cuqui, leader of indigenous peoples in Amazon, Bolivia said, indigenous peoples may be a group of citizens who have a small impact on the earth. However, they also want to contribute to the collective struggle to face the climate crisis.

"We understand that we must be a part of this entire process. Such participation must be comprehensive, otherwise, the energy transition will not be fair," he said.

Also read: Their lives were taken to defend the environment

He exemplified the situation in Uyuni, Bolivia, around the salt lake of Salar de Uyuni. The community living in the area opposes excessive water use to extract lithium. This early-stage project is a joint effort between Bolivia and China. The Bolivian Ministry of Energy did not respond to requests for comment.

POLRES HALMAHERA SELATAN

The demonstration in the Obi Island nickel mining area, South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, took place on Monday (13/4/2020).

A similar situation is happening in Chile. Four indigenous communities around the Atacama salt lake have stopped dialogues with the copper giant Codelco and lithium mining company SQM on Monday (15/4/2024). The dialogue has been ongoing since December 2023.

Representatives of the indigenous communities of Camar, Toconao, Socaire, and Peine, in a joint statement, stated that the dialogue had to be stopped because they assessed that the opposing party was not willing to engage in dialogue.

Also read: Mining Permit in Wawonii Urged to Be Revoked

"Despite our community's efforts, the fact is that among the actors involved, there is no real will to maintain dialogue," their statement said.

The cessation of this dialogue comes almost a year after Chilean President Gabriel Boric assigned Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, to lead efforts to increase the state's control over the strategic lithium project. So far, there has been no comment from the indigenous council, SQM, and Codelco regarding the cessation of the dialogue.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

The sea water was brown along the coast where hills were mined to extract its nickel content in Tapunggaya Village, Molawe District, North Konawe Regency, on Wednesday (7/8/2019).

The conference also produced a number of recommendations for the government. The state and its institutions were urged to acknowledge, respect, and protect the rights of indigenous peoples, as stipulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Governments in each country are also urged to reform a number of laws in order to end the criminalization of indigenous communities. They are also asked to stop attacks, killings, violence, and oppression against defenders of indigenous people's rights.

In addition, the government is also urged to ensure that energy transition initiatives are carried out fairly, prioritizing human rights, the rights of indigenous communities, social justice, cultural integrity, and environmental protection. (AP/Reuters)